Improvement in lanterns



2' Sheets--Sheet 1.

A. FRENCH.

Lantern.

Patented Nov. 12, 1872.

Iagf.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIGE.

ALONZO FRENCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LANTERNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,906, dated November 12, 1872.

improved lantern; Figs. 2 and 3, detached `Jiews, showing the joint in the top thereof; Fig. 4, Sheet 2, a perspective view of the said lantern Fig. 5, a plan of the tube at the top 5 and Fig. 6, a vertical section of the top, showing the said tube.

The same parts are denoted by the same letters in all the VJfigures.

My invention consists in the construction of a tube, arranged at the top of the lantern 5 also in the mode of supporting the plate on' which the globe rests, and by which air is admitted to the flame; in the attachment of the upper part of the lantern directly to the oilcup, on whose base the lantern rests; in the means whereby a ratchet-wheel with a short stem is rendered accessible from the outside; and in other details of construction.

The top of my improved lantern consists of a band, A, to which are soldered or fastened in any convenient manner the cap B and rim G. The band A is a strip of metal, whose ends are joined together, as shown on the ontside and inside in Figs. 2 and 8, respectively. To form this joint a slit, a b, is cut in one end of the band, and a corresponding tongue, c d, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, formed in the other end by cutting a horizontal slit, c, therein at a height corresponding to the top of the slit a b, or in any other convenient way. The tongue c d is then inserted through the slit a b, and turned back against the inside of the slit end, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to in sure a steady and continuous draft through the top of the lantern, and to prevent the flame from being extinguished by the movements which the lantern undergoes in carrying it, I construct the top with a tube, D, passing through it, open at both ends and also above, the opening in the top of the tube being formed by cutting it away, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or in any other suitable mode. This upper opening or wind-breaker prevents the air from entering through the tube and impn gin g downward upon the flame, and creates an outward current, carrying oft' the hot air through the tube. It may sometimes be convenient to make the tube in two pieces, D D', the inner end of one piece over that of the oth er, as shown in Fig. 6. G is the globe of the lantern, which rests upon the perforated disk H, and is held steady by the pieces I I, attached to the top-of the lantern, and forming an internal support for the upper part of the globe against lateral vibration. J is the guard, one of whose wires is bent so as to pass through the hinge K on the rim C, thereby hinging the lantern-top directly to the guard, and dispensing with the upper ring, which has been heretoforeused for the attachment of the top. Anotherusually the opposite-guardwire is bent into a hook at its upper end, thereby forming a spring-catch, which keeps the lantern-top closed by hooking into a slot in the rim C, as shown at L, and which, when pressed inward, as shown in dotted lines at l in Fig. 1, allows the top to be opened. The perforated disk H, which admits air to the flame and supports the globe G, is itself supported by the guard, either directly, as shown in the drawing, or upon a band, llange, or other intermeA diate support connected with the guard. Inn stead of a perforated disk a slotted plate or wire screen may be employed, or any other device which will admit air to the dame, and also support the globe. N is the oil-cup, which forms the base of the lantern, and from whose exterior surface project the pins P P, taking into slots R R in the bottom ring ofthe guard. By this means the guard, with the entire upper portion of the lantern, is attached directly and securelyto the oilcup, and may be readily detached therefrom.

Instead of the pins and slots, any other suitable device may be used, provided that the guard or frame of the lantern is attached directly to the oil-cup. The oil-cup may, if desired, be constructed with a stand, O, of either lsolid or skeleton form.

It will be observed that, by the arrangement ported on the guard above the oil-cup, an open space is left between the oil-cup and plate H, so that not only is air Afreely admitted to the flame and the oil kept cool, preventing its heating and explosion, but the cup is rendered entirely accessible above the rin g; and the ratchet-wheel S, however short its stem may be, can be turned Without opening any part of the lantern. f

Vihat I cla-iin as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The band A, Whose ends are joined in the manner shown and described.

2. The tube D, constructed and arranged in the top of the lantern, as shown and described.

3. The combination of the globe G with one or more projections from the top of the lantern, 4operating as internal supports for the upper part of the globe to prevent lateral motion thereof, substantially as described.

et. A guard-wire,wl1ich operates as a springhook to keep the top ofthe lantern closed.

5. The perforated plate H, or other device which admits air to the llame, supported by the Y 

